Williams is preparing for a challenging Spanish Grand Prix as the team’s much-improved 2025 Formula 1 car faces compatibility issues with the Barcelona circuit. Currently sitting comfortably in fifth place in the championship, Williams has consistently qualified in the top 10 this season and scored points at every race except for Bahrain, where both drivers were hindered by circumstances beyond their control.
However, the return to Barcelona highlights the team’s ongoing struggles with long corners, a characteristic that has proven problematic during the ground-effect era. Recent qualifying history for Williams at the Spanish GP shows a trend of difficulties, with exits from Q1 in various positions over the past three years.
Carlos Sainz acknowledged that the track’s layout was challenging for their car’s design, noting that it has historically not performed well under the pressure of long corners. In Free Practice sessions, Sainz was 15th in FP1 and 14th in FP2, just ahead of teammate Alex Albon, who participated in one session with rookie driver Victor Martins to complete their mandatory rookie driver allocation.
Despite showing signs of improvement, team principal James Vowles recognized that Barcelona continues to be a tough circuit for them. He previously mentioned reducing the team’s performance issue from a “9/10” to a “4/10,” yet this weekend is proving to be a test of those improvements.
Albon expressed cautious optimism about the car’s performance compared to last year, admitting that while there is more potential to unlock, it still falls short on certain tracks. He humorously noted his hope to avoid finishing at the back of the grid during the race.
Sainz pointed out that the team is currently about a second off the competitive pace on this circuit, but stressed that they remain committed to finding ways to enhance performance. Both drivers plan to explore various setups in hopes of gaining an advantage, showcasing their determination to improve despite the current hurdles.
This persistence in the face of challenges can offer hope for Williams, suggesting that with resilience and adaptive strategies, their performance could evolve further in future races.